The CEE insurance market grew by 2.2% y-o-y in 2018, reaching a total GWP volume of EUR 36.9 billion. At the same time, CEE insurers paid benefits and indemnities worth EUR 22.44 billion, 2.37% up y-o-y. Poland, the region's flagship market, was also the only one recording a negative change in GWP, which made it diminish its share in the region's GWP to 39.2%, from 41.4% in 2017.

Seven of the region's 17 markets have reported double-digit growth rates, the strongest growth being witnessed in Estonia (29.24%). The most developed markets in the region have achieved a significantly lower increase of the business volume.

On the life insurance segment, the Polish market's fall by over 14% has determined a negative change of about 6% of the consolidate regional GWP, to EUR 12.37 billion. Thus, this business sector has lost about 3 percentage points of its weight in the regional portfolio.

Non-life insurance lines fared better, recording overall a positive evolution of the GWP volume. Motor insurance lines recorded growth rates of 9.33% for Motor Hull and 5.05% for the MTPL line. The individual markets' dynamics were positive, except for Poland and Romania which recorded slightly negative growth rate on the MTPL line. Paid claims increased, in average, by about 7% on both lines.

At the same time, the property insurance segment saw a 5.4% increase in GWP and, helped by a "calmer" year in extreme weather events terms, an almost 8% decrease in the paid claims.

A detailed analysis of the regional trends will be available with the forthcoming issue of the XPRIMM Insurance Report CEE, SEE & CIS - FY2018, to be launched on 20 May.